Last week marked the midpoint of the WPIAL season and saw the first four teams clinch playoff spots. Upper St Clair and Carmichaels clinched on Friday night then Clairton and Jeannette clinched Saturday afternoon. This week, 16 more teams have the opportunities to lock up postseason berths (which are detailed below). There were a number of close games that went down on Friday night, including a hard-fought battle at Highmark Stadium between Pine-Richland and Central Catholic that the Vikings ultimately won. The news got even worse for Pine-Richland this week as star QB Phil Jurkovec was diagnosed with a thumb injury and will miss the rest of the season after having surgery. Over the last two weeks, we have seen the WPIAL single-game records for total yards and rushing both fall. Two weeks ago, Keystone Oaks QB Alex Smith broke the single-game total yardage record with 653 yards by throwing for 450 yards and rushing for 203 yards in a shootout loss to Beaver. On Friday night, Armstrong RB Zane Dudek rushed for 492 yards, breaking the single-game record and putting himself on pace to break Lamont Wade’s WPIAL single-season record (which was set over 16 games) by the end of the regular season. In 4A, Blackhawk blew their second 21-point lead of the season, this time falling to South Fayette 28-21 after jumping out in the first half. In 3A, Beaver lost their first game of the season, falling to Central Valley 42-35. In the 1A Game of the Week, Rochester scored with under a minute to play to come from behind and beat Northgate.

As a reminder, if you’re going to be following along with the WPIAL action tonight, keep an eye on the following hashtags on Twitter where people post score updates from games: #WPIAL #MSAscores #Skylights

Also, if you’re not already, follow the @MSAsports twitter account which will post score updates and bookmark the MSA Scoreboard for quick reference at the end of the night. They get the final scores up faster than anyone. Also, MSA Sports broadcasts most games over the internet, here is their list of the games they will be broadcasting tonight.

I’ll update my WPIAL Standings Page at the end of the night. It’s the only one available that includes all playoff tiebreakers (Gardner Points, WPIAL Points Tiebreaker and Head-to-Head wins). Since Class 3A and 1A have special rules for their Wild Card tiebreakers that count games outside of conference play, I also added pages to track the 3A Wild Card Standings and 1A Wild Card Standings. Class 2A also uses a Wild Card system, but only conference games count in the Wild Card standings, so no additional trackers were necessary as all the information would be the same as what appears on the regular Standings Page.

The headline story of this week is the game that everyone has talked about for years and is finally happening.

Aliquippa at Clairton

This is the game we have been waiting to see for 84 years. These have been the two most successful programs in WPIAL history with Aliquippa claiming 16 WPIAL titles and Clairton 12. Aliquippa has been a Single-A sized school that has played up in classification for many years while Clairton has remained in the smallest level of competition and dominated. It is worth noting that while their enrollment numbers (the count of 9th-11th grade boys) are similar, the actual size of their football rosters is very different. Clairton’s roster size is generally under 30 players while Aliquippa routinely boasts over 40. The stories behind both of these teams are similar and both are microcosms of the grit and tenacity that defined Western Pennsylvania in the wake of the steel industry leaving in the 1980s. Aliquippa was once a booming mill town in the Beaver Valley, home to over 26,000 people in the 1950s and 60s to just over 9000 now. Clairton has seen a similar downturn in population from their height of over 19,000 in the 1950s to under 7000 people now. But football has been the lifeblood of the two communities. Great pieces have been written by major publications about football in these towns.

As for this game, both teams are loaded with talented players that are being recruited by major Division 1 institutions. Aliquippa’s strength is on the ground, running behind their stout offensive line. The Quips will split carries between sophomore RB Avante McKenzie (630 yards, 7 TDs) and senior RB Davion Jones (531 yards, 7 TDs). Kwantell Raines started the season at QB but moved to WR in week 4 and has scored 3 times since the switch. Raines was replaced by sophomore Eli Kosanovich who has thrown for 128 yards and 3 TDs (all of them to Raines). The Quips don’t throw much, but Antwan Brooks leads the way with 112 yards and 2 TDs, followed by Bobby Cashaw’s 84 yards and 2 TDs. While Aliquippa wins with power, Clairton wins with speed. The Bears have four players averaging over 13 yards per carry, led by senior Lamont Wade (756 yards, 8 TDs) who is also one of the top defensive back recruits in the nation (Rivals.com lists Wade as their #9 overall prospect). Senior Noah Hamlin switched from WR to QB this season and has thrown for 463 yards and 6 TDs and rushed for 287 yards and 9 TDs. Junior WR Delvin Clifford leads the Bears in receiving with 236 yards and 4 TDs while fellow junior Tre’sean Howard has accounted for 159 receiving yards, 212 rushing yards, and 5 total TDs. One under-the-radar thing to watch in this game is Clairton’s lack of a kicker. The Bears will (and have for years) always go for 2 after touchdowns. This year, the Bears have successfully converted 2-point tries on 25 of their 39 TDs. Aliquippa does have a kicker but he has been inconsistent this year, making just 2 of 7 extra point attempts. The Quips will also go for 2 more often than not and have converted 9 of 16 two-point tries this year. This game may very well come down to which team can get a stop on two-point tries.

6A

Game of the Week

Mt Lebanon (2-1, 2-3) at Norwin (3-1, 4-1)

The biggest news in 6A is obviously Pine-Richland QB Phil Jurkovec’s injury, but the Rams have a non-conference game against Peters Twp this week then face Shaler and Butler, so they have some time to figure things out before they take on rival North Allegheny in the season finale. Bethel Park sits atop the Southeastern Conference, followed closely by Norwin and Mt Lebanon. Bethel Park already has a win over Norwin and plays Mt Lebanon in the final week of the season. If the Blue Devils want to have a chance to win the conference title in Week 9, they need to start with a win over Norwin this week. The Blue Devils have been led by QB James Stocker’s 1286 yards and 8 TDs. Stocker has spread the ball around to Jack Young (486 yards, 3 TDs), Edgar Parrilla (318 yards, 4 TDs), and Patrick Moeller (232 yards, 1 TD). Mt Lebanon also has a strong running game with David Harvey (578 yards, 7 TDs) and Emmanuel Komolafe (209 yards, 5 TDs). Norwin’s offense is also geared towards their passing game as QB Brock Dieter has thrown for 659 yards and 10 TDs. His favorite targets have been Anthony DelleFemine (441 yards, 8 TDs) and Anthony Carr who has 126 receiving yards, 96 rushing yards and leads the team with 9 TDs. Kyle Turcovsky leads the Knights in rushing with 257 yards and 6 TDs.

Honorable Mentions: North Allegheny at Penn Hills, Seneca Valley at Bethel Park

The WPIAL may find themselves with quite the conundrum when it comes to the 6A playoffs. Bethel Park is currently leading the Southeastern Conference but has lost both non-conference games to North Allegheny and Pine-Richland. If they also lose to Seneca Valley (who has the inside track on the 4th and final playoff spot from the Northern Seven Conference) it will be interesting to see how the playoff seeding shakes out if one conference champion lost to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place teams from the other conference. Last week’s loss to Seneca Valley was bad news for Penn Hills whose playoff hopes now rely on beating North Allegheny and hoping for a 3-way tie with NA and Seneca Valley. The WPIAL has a potential nightmare scenario brewing as Penn Hills has games against Hempfield and Mt Lebanon over the next few weeks. The Indians could miss out on the playoffs due to finishing 5th in the Northern Seven but boast head-to-head victories over two playoff teams from the Southeastern Conference.

Playoff Scenarios

Northern Seven Conference
– Central Catholic clinches the Conference Title with a win over Butler
– North Allegheny clinches a playoff spot with a win over Penn Hills

Southeastern Conference
– Norwin clinches a playoff spot with a win over Mt Lebanon

5A

Game of the Week

West Allegheny (4-0, 5-0) at Upper St Clair (5-0, 5-0)

There is a clear delineation in the Allegheny Nine Conference between the top four teams and the bottom five. Next week’s game between North Hills and Chartiers Valley should finalize the four playoff teams. While the playoff race won’t be exciting, the battle at the top of the conference over the next four weeks certainly will be. At the halfway point in the season, Upper St Clair, West Allegheny, and Woodland Hills are all undefeated in conference play. This is the first meeting between the three teams, which will be followed by Woodland Hills against West Allegheny in Week 8 and Woodland Hills taking on Upper St Clair in Week 9. These teams are nearly mirror images of each other, holding their opponents under 5 points per game while scoring over 30 per game. West Allegheny has been led by QB Nick Ross throwing for 859 yards and 4 TDs, primarily to Joey Diven (216 yards, 2 TDs), Mateo Vandamia (205 yards), and Brandon Lipford (153 yards receiving, 29 yards rushing, 4 total TDs). On the ground, the Indians have relied on Kenny White (350 yards, 6 TDs) who is averaging over 7 yards per carry and Kamren Cornell (149 yards, 1 TD). Upper St Clair struggled offensively last week against Chartiers Valley without senior RB Thomas Vissman (190 yards, 4 TDs). Senior Blake Kadar stepped in and rushed for over 100 yards and a score to carry the Panthers. Kadar took over the team lead with 407 yards and 3 TDs on the season while sophomore Colin McLinden looks to be the back of the future after rushing for 278 yards and averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Panthers QB Jack Hansberry has attempted just over 11 passes per game but has thrown for 421 yards and 6 TDs. His favorite targets have been Dom Cepullio (164 yards, 6 TDs) and Khalil Jackson (113 yards). This game figures to be a defensive struggle where points will be hard to come by but could also be a preview of a potential semifinal or championship game. Both of these teams are talented enough to make a run at the 5A title and this game will serve as an excellent measuring stick.

Honorable Mentions: Franklin Regional at Penn-Trafford, Kiski at McKeesport

While the split between the top and the bottom teams in the Allegheny Nine Conference is split between the four that should make the playoffs and the five that will not, the Big East Conference will be a heck of a race.There are currently 6 teams with either 3 or 4 conference victories and only 4 of them will make the playoffs. There will be big games every week between Kiski (4-0), McKeesport (4-1), Armstrong (3-1), Gateway (3-1), Penn-Trafford (3-1), and Franklin Regional (3-2) to determine the four playoff teams. Kiski currently leads the conference but the Cavaliers play their final four games against other top teams which means despite their 4-0 start, the Cavaliers playoff spot is nowhere close to secure. Likewise, Penn-Trafford also plays their final four games against top conference opponents.

Playoff Scenarios

Allegheny Nine Conference
– Upper St Clair has clinched a playoff spot
– West Allegheny clinches a playoff spot with a win over Upper St Clair AND a Moon loss
– Woodland Hills clinches a playoff spot with a win over North Hills AND a Moon loss

No clinching scenarios in the Big East Conference

4A

Game of the Week

New Castle (4-1, 4-1) at South Fayette (4-0, 5-0)

South Fayette survived a scare from Blackhawk last week after the Cougars jumped out to a 21-0 lead but the Lions battled back to win 28-21. South Fayette beat Mars in Week 1, and the Fighting Planets topped New Castle last week. A win this week would put South Fayette in clear control of the Northwest Nine Conference while a New Castle win would throw the top of the conference into a three-way tie. These teams have the top two offenses in the conference, both featuring talented quarterbacks. South Fayette is led by junior QB Drew Saxton who has thrown for 1441 yards and 18 TDs, spreading the ball around to Noah Plack (391 yards, 5 TDs), Dan Trimbur (351 yards, 8 TDs), Cameron Garland (264 yards, 2 TDs), and Mikey Speca (216 yards, 3 TDs). The Lions have also been solid on the ground with senior RB Geavonie Love rushing for 507 yards and 5 TDs. New Castle’s defense will be pressed to stop their balanced attack, but have two Division 1 recruits in their secondary in Geno Stone and Marcus Hooker that can match up with South Fayette’s receivers. Stone also plays quarterback and has led the Red Hurricanes with 662 passing yards and 7 TDs while rushing for 412 yards and 8 TDs. Hooker has played wide receiver and running back, accounting for 211 receiving yards, 132 rushing yards, and 8 TDs. New Castle’s leading receiver is Garrett Farah (292 yards, 4 TDs) while RB Lorenzo Gardner (315 rushing yards, 140 receiving yards, 5 total TDs) has contributed in multiple ways.

Honorable Mentions: Thomas Jefferson at Mars, Highlands at Montour

Thomas Jefferson is the defending AAA Champions and TJ vs Mars was my preseason pick for the 4A Championship Game. Mars has improved on the ground since losing to South Fayette in Week 1 and this will be an intriguing non-conference game to watch between two playoff teams with Heinz Field aspirations. Highlands was expected to compete for a playoff spot but hit a bit of a rut, losing close games to New Castle, Mars, and Knoch. Their only conference win is over bottom-feeder Ambridge and the Golden Rams will need to start stacking wins if they’re going to get back in the playoff hunt. Montour currently sits 4th in the conference and a win this week would set up the Spartans Week 8 matchup with Blackhawk as a showdown for the final playoff spot.

Playoff Scenarios

No clinching scenarios in the Northwest Nine Conference

Big Nine Conference
– Belle Vernon clinches a playoff spot with a win over Trinity
– Thomas Jefferson plays a non-conference game but can clinch a playoff spot if Belle Vernon beats Trinity

3A

Games of the Week

Freeport (3-0, 4-1) at Apollo-Ridge (3-1, 3-2)

Welcome back, Duane Brown. After undergoing ACL surgery during the offseason, the Apollo-Ridge senior missed the first three games of the season. The Vikings started 1-2 but have rebounded to score 83 points over the last two weeks in defeats of Burrell and Seton-La Salle. In those two games, Brown has accounted for 274 receiving yards, 92 rushing yards, and 8 total TDs. Incredibly, Brown has just 24 touches (12 catches, 12 carries) and has scored on a third of those. All Duane Brown does is score touchdowns. Apollo-Ridge has been led by dual-threat QB Kyle Fitzroy who has thrown for 919 yards and 10 TDs and rushed for 246 yards and 2 TDs). In just two games, Brown is the Vikings leading receiver, surpassing Daylon Wells (242 yards, 2 TDs) and Danny Orkwis (167 yards, 1 TD). Senior RB Brett Coleman leads the team in rushing with 399 yards and 5 TDs. Freeport graduated nearly all of their starters that took the Yellow Jackets to the AA semifinals last year, but has gotten off to a strong 3-0 start in conference play this season. They held on for a tight 24-20 victory over archrival Burrell last week. Sophomore QB Austin Romanchak has stepped up to lead Freeport with 334 passing yards and 6 TDs while rushing for 444 yards and 3 TDs. Conor Selinger has rushed for 358 yards and 4 TDs while Evan Schaffhauser leads the team in receiving with 118 yards and 3 TDs. Jacob Sarver has been utilized all over the field, rushing for 160 yards and 3 TDs while adding 107 receiving yards and 2 more scores. The Yellow Jackets have an aggressive defense that has produced a number of splash plays this season. This is an important game in the Allegheny Conference. Since only 8 teams will make the 3A playoffs, only the top two teams are guaranteed playoff spots while the third place teams must compete for a Wild Card. With Keystone Oaks currently sitting in first, this game could vault Apollo-Ridge into second or solidify Freeport’s spot in the top two.

Mt Pleasant (3-1, 4-1) at Derry (4-0, 5-0)

Yes, there are two 3A Games of the Week this week. This rekindling of an old Keystone Conference rivalry from the 1980s and 90s will likely decide the Interstate Conference title. Derry enters with an undefeated record and could clinch the conference title with a win and losses by Yough and McGuffey. After averaging just 15.2 points per game last year, the Trojans have scored at least 27 in every outing this season. Derry has been able to ride senior RB Tyler Balega (686 yards, 10 TDs) and has gotten complementary contributions from Shawn Broadway (263 yards, 4 TDs) and Owen Whitacre (206 rushing yards, 124 receiving yards, 3 total TDs). Junior QB Ryan Polinsky has thrown for 542 yards and 5 TDs, primarily to Whitacre, Josh Bauer (112 yards, 3 TDs), and Noah Wiencek (106 yards, 1 TD). While Derry’s offense is primarily based on their ground game, Mt Pleasant will attack in multiple ways. Senior QB Johnny Yester has thrown for 1023 yards and 10 TDs, primarily to Keith Kelp (516 yards, 5 TDs). Chris Wagner has led the Vikings in rushing with 608 yards and 2 TDs while Jake Newill has been the big play threat, sitting second on the team in rushing (308 yards) and receiving (250 yards) and leading them in scoring (6 total TDs).

Honorable Mentions: Burrell at Keystone Oaks, Central Valley at Hopewell, Quaker Valley at Beaver Falls, Yough at Elizabeth Forward

Since only the top two in each conference are guaranteed playoff spots, there will be big games every week from here on out. The Beaver Valley Conference is the one to keep an eye on as 6 of the 7 teams are still in the playoff hunt. Central Valley (3-0 in conference play), Beaver (2-1), Aliquippa (2-1), Beaver Falls (1-1), Hopewell (1-1), and Quaker Valley (1-2) will all face off against each other over the coming weeks and only two will be guaranteed a playoff spot. A third will likely get in via the Wild Card, but this will also mean that at least one very good team will miss out on the postseason because of the WPIAL’s decision to only have 8 playoff teams in 3A. Yough vs Elizabeth Forward has Wild Card implications as the two currently sit 3rd and 4th in the Interstate Conference and both have head-to-head wins over 5th place McGuffey.

Playoff Scenarios

No clinching scenarios in the Beaver Valley Conference.

No clinching scenarios in the Allegheny Conference.

Interstate Conference
– Derry clinches the Conference Title with a win over Mt Pleasant AND losses by Yough and McGuffey

2A

Game of the Week

Riverside (4-0, 4-1) at Neshannock (3-0, 4-1)

The last time these two teams met, they set a WPIAL record for most points in a game since the 1950s as Neshannock won 71-48. That record has since been surpassed thanks to the offensive explosion between Beaver and Keystone Oaks two weeks ago that Beaver won 77-49. These two squads currently sit atop the Midwestern Conference and a win by Neshannock would give them a clear path to the Conference title as they already have victories over third place CWNC and fourth place Laurel. Riverside has not yet played CWNC so a win by the Panthers would leave the door open for a 3-way tie scenario for my alma mater. Both of these teams have been good on defense, holding opponents to about 12 points per game. However, Neshannock has scored nearly twice as many points as Riverside thanks to their explosive offense. Last season, Neshannock QB Frank Antuono came just short of becoming the 5th player in WPIAL history to pass and rush for 1000 yards. He is well on pace to hit that mark this season as he has thrown for 933 yards and 11 TDs and rushed for 464 yards and 10 TDs. Daniel WAlker (450 yards, 8 TDs) and Ty Sear (221 yards, 2 TDs) lead the Lancers in receiving while running backs Sean Doran (411 yards, 3 TDs) and Joe Nerti (255 yards, 4 TDs) have contributed in the ground game. Riverside’s offense is not as explosive as last season but has struck a good balance between the run game and the pass game. Freshman Ben Hughes has taken over at quarterback and thrown for 426 yards. The Panthers rushing attack has been able to keep the pressure off Hughes with Lance Fisher (443 yards, 6 TDs) leading the way. Austin Dambach leads the team in receiving (204 yards) and has also been used out of the backfield (43 yards rushing) and has scored twice. Ricky Wass is second on the team in both rushing (369 yards) and receiving (198 yards) and has found the end zone four times.

Honorable Mentions: CWNC at Laurel, East Allegheny at Avonworth, Steel Valley at Carlynton

Since 16 teams make the 2A playoffs, the top two teams plus two of the three third place teams get home playoff games. CWNC and Laurel currently sit 3rd and 4th in the Midwestern Conference and the winner will have an inside track to a home playoff game. East Allegheny currently sits atop the Three Rivers Conference while Avonworth is hovering right above the playoff cut line. There are still some skeptics about East Allegheny and this should be a good measuring stick game for both teams who should make the playoffs. Steel Valley was the preseason favorite in 2A and absolutely looks the part while Carlynton has surprised so far with two wins and a close loss to Avonworth that has put the Cougars in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

Playoff Scenarios

Century Conference
– Chartiers-Houston clinches a playoff spot with a win over Charleroi AND a Beth-Center loss
– Washington clinches a playoff spot with a win over Bentworth
– Burgettstown clinches a playoff spot with a win over Beth-Center AND a Charleroi loss

Midwestern Conference
– Riverside clinches a playoff spot with a win over Neshannock

Three Rivers Conference
– East Allegheny clinches a playoff spot with a win over Avonworth
– Steel Valley clinches a playoff spot with a win over Carlynton AND an Avonworth loss

1A

Game of the Week

California at Carmichaels

The top of the Tri-County South Conference figures to be very competitive down the stretch as Carmichales and Fort Cherry both enter the second half of the season undefeated in conference play while California’s only loss was by 6 points to Fort Cherry in Week 1. Carmichaels has reached the midway point of the season unbeaten in conference play thanks to dual threat quarterback Jonathan Christopher who has thrown for 530 yards and 5 TDs and rushed for 263 yards and 4 TDs. Sophomore RB Joey Minor leads the Mighty Mikes with 279 yards and 1 TD. Cody Brown has been an all-around weapon for Carmichaels, leading the team with 187 receiving yards and adding 189 rushing yards and leading the team in scoring with 5 TDs. Carmichaels has also been sound on defense, allowing just over 8 points per game in conference play. California is coming off a two-point victory over Monessen. The Trojans have relied on junior RB Jonathan Wood and freshman Cochise Ryan to shoulder the load of the offense. A win by California would put the Trojans right back in the thick of the race for the conference title and for a home playoff game. A Carmichaels victory would make it a two-team race for the Tri-County South title that would be decided in a Week 8 showdown with Fort Cherry.

Honorable Mentions: OLSH at Rochester, Springdale at Jeannette, Imani at Bishop Canevin (Saturday)

After missing the playoffs each of the last three seasons, it is nice to see Rochester back at the top of the conference standings. The Rams scored a huge victory last week over Northgate to take control of the Big 7 Conference. A win over 3rd place OLSH this week would clinch a playoff spot for the Rams and put them in the drivers seat for the conference title. OLSH has an opportunity to make the playoffs for the first time in school history. Clairton and Jeannette are the clear favorites to reach the title game in 1A, but Springdale has put together a surprisingly good season and sits at 4-1 with their only defeat coming to Clairton. A Jeannette win would put the Jayhawks on a collision course with Clairton for a Week 9 showdown for the conference title. Imani and Canevin currently sit 5th and 6th in the Eastern Conference and the winner will have an inside track at securing a playoff spot.

Playoff Scenarios

Big Seven Conference
– Rochester clinches a playoff spot and a home playoff game with a win over OLSH

Eastern Conference
– Clairton and Jeannette have clinched playoff spots

Tri-County South Conference
– Carmichaels has clinched a playoff spot
– California clinches a playoff spot with a win over Carmichaels AND a Mapletown loss